The world of women’s basketball continues to evolve, showcasing extraordinary talent, athleticism, and leadership. In 2025, the sport is thriving with players who redefine excellence on the court. Below is a list of the top 10 best female basketball players in the world, based on their performances, impact, and contributions to the game.
List Of Top 10 Best Female Basketball Players In The World 2025
1. A’ja Wilson
In 2025, A’ja Wilson, the star of the Las Vegas Aces, is still the best basketball player in the world. Wilson is 6’4″ tall and can do it all. She can score in the post, hit mid-range jumpers, and stretch the floor with her three-point shooting, which is getting better. She won her second MVP award in the 2024 WNBA season, when she averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Her defensive skills, especially her ability to guard multiple positions, make her a key player for the Aces’ back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. Wilson is the face of women’s basketball because of her work for social justice and her role as a leader for young athletes. Her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she led Team USA to gold, adds to her legacy.
2. Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart, or “Stewie,” is still a strong player for the New York Liberty. Stewart is 6’4″ and has the ball-handling skills of a guard, as well as great scoring and defensive instincts. She averaged 20.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in 2024, which shows that she could make a difference on both ends of the floor. Her signature step-back jumper and ability to score from all three levels make her a nightmare for other players. Stewart’s leadership in taking the Liberty to the 2024 WNBA Finals, along with her two gold medals from the Olympics, show that she is one of the best players in the world. She is still one of the best in the world because she can play defense on a lot of different positions and always comes through in big games.
3. Alyssa Thomas
Alyssa Thomas, the Connecticut Sun’s do-it-all forward, is the best example of someone who can do a lot of different things. Thomas is 6’2″ tall and is known for her triple-double skills, which she often flirts with or gets. She averaged 11.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game in 2024, which earned her the nickname “Engine” for her never-ending energy. Thomas is a must-have player because she can play both forward and defense at an elite level. She often guards the other team’s best player. Her leadership in getting the Sun to the playoffs year after year and her great play for Team USA show how much of an impact she had. Thomas is a fan favorite and one of the best players in 2025 because of her grit and hard work.
4. Caitlin Clark
The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year and guard for the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark, never fails to enthrall fans with her explosive play. After shattering college records at Iowa, Clark was selected first overall in the 2024 draft and has since established herself as a key member of the Fever. Her 20th-place finish in ESPN’s fantasy basketball rankings for the 2025 season reflects a strong but developing role in a cutthroat competition. Her playmaking (3.9 APG) and scoring (17.5 PPG) have been crucial, and she has had some memorable moments, including as her 10-assist effort against Team USA in the 2024 All-Star Game.
5. Napheesa Collier
Napheesa Collier, a big for the Minnesota Lynx, is the best player in the WNBA in 2025. She leads ESPN’s midseason rankings with 23.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. She is a strong candidate for the 2025 MVP award after finishing second in 2024. She leads the league in scoring (24.4 points per game) and is tough on defense (3.2 steals and blocks per game). Collier’s ability to play many positions was on display in the 2025 All-Star Game, where she scored 36 points on 13-of-16 shooting and won the MVP award. Collier has had a big effect on the Lynx, even if she has missed recent games because of an ankle ailment. For example, they lost to the New York Liberty on August 20. As a co-founder of the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, she is a leader off the court as well. She received MVP honors and averaged 25.7 points per game. Collier’s willingness to speak out about things like toxic fan behavior and pay gaps makes her an even bigger influence in the league.
6. Jonquel Jones
Jonquel Orthea Jones is a 6’6″ power forward/center for the New York Liberty. He was born on January 5, 1994, in Freeport, Bahamas. She moved to Maryland when she was 14 and went to Riverdale Baptist School with her guardian Diane Richardson. She was called “Big Slim” and played one year at Clemson before moving to George Washington. Over her career, she averaged 14.9 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. The Los Angeles Sparks picked Jones sixth overall in 2016, however they moved him to the Connecticut Sun. In 2017, he had a breakout game with 23 points and 21 rebounds, receiving Most Improved Player and breaking the single-season rebound record (403). In 2018, she was named Sixth Woman of the Year, and in 2019, she led the Sun to the Finals. She didn’t play in 2020 because of COVID-19, but she came back as the 2021 MVP (19.4 PPG, 11.2 RPG) and led the league in wins.
7. Jackie Young
The Las Vegas Aces have a 6’0″ guard named Jackie Young. She was born on September 16, 1997, in Princeton, Indiana. Linda Young and David Wayne Edwards Sr. are Young’s parents. She has a brother who played college football. Young was the best player at Princeton Community High School, collecting a state-record 3,268 points and guiding the team to a state title in 2015 with 36 points in the final. In 2016, she was named Indiana Miss Basketball. She played for Notre Dame from 2016 to 2019, winning the NCAA championship in 2018 and the ACC Tournament MVP in 2019. She averaged 12.4 points per game over 109 games. In 2019, the Aces picked Young first overall. He then moved to point guard and was named an All-Rookie. She had her best year in 2022, scoring 20.2 points per game, and she helped her team win two crowns in a row (2022–2023). In 2024, she scored an average of 17.8 points per game. As of August 2025, her stats show that she is a good shooter and playmaker.
8. Chelsea Gray
The Las Vegas Aces have Chelsea Gray as their 5’11” point guard. She was born on October 8, 1992, in Hayward, California. At St. Mary’s High School, she laid the groundwork for her career at Duke (2010–2014), when knee issues cut her seasons short but she still averaged 11.1 points per game. Connecticut picked Gray 11th in 2014, but she didn’t play because of an injury. In 2016, she was traded to Los Angeles, where she won her first title as a bench spark. She led in three-point percentage starting in 2017 and was named an All-Star several times. She joined the Aces in 2021 and won titles in 2022 (Finals MVP) and 2023. In 2024, averages dropped to 8.6 PPG as she recovered. In 2025, she guided Rose BC to Unrivaled’s first title and was named Finals MVP.
9. Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Christine Plum was born on August 24, 1994, in Poway, California. She is a guard for the Los Angeles Sparks (traded in 2025). She came from a family of athletes and was great at volleyball and basketball at La Jolla Country Day School, where she scored 2,247 points and won state titles. Plum established the NCAA scoring record (3,527 points) while playing for Washington from 2013 to 2017. She also won national player accolades. In 2025, her No. 10 jersey was retired. San Antonio (now the Aces) picked her first in 2017. She won Sixth Player of the Year in 2021, All-Star MVP in 2022, and back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. In 2025, she plays 20 games with Sparks and scores an average of 20.1 points per game.
10. Jewell Loyd
Jewell Loyd is a guard for the Las Vegas Aces. She was born on October 5, 1993, in Lincolnwood, Illinois. She earned 3,077 points at Niles West High School. She scored 1,909 points at Notre Dame from 2012 to 2015 and was named ESPN Player of the Year in 2015. Seattle picked Loyd first in the 2015 draft. He earned Rookie of the Year, two titles (2018 and 2020), and led the league in scoring in 2023 with 24.7 points per game. She scored an average of 19.7 points per game in 2024. Loyd has won two Olympic gold medals (in 2020 and 2024) and is a great scorer and all-around player.